Braves snap RISP woes, break through in clutch

ATLANTA — While it might be easy to say that it was only a matter of time, it certainly wasn’t easy for the Braves to endure the first 35 innings of this homestand as they put on a clinic on how to strand a plethora of runners and repeatedly squander scoring opportunities in maddening fashion.

Eventually, the law of averages had to take effect and provide some good fortune for the Braves, who certainly received plenty of it as they took advantage of a defensive blunder, benefited from a game-changing replay review and recorded a couple of big hits during the decisive two-run eighth inning in Friday night’s 4-2 win over the Marlins.

“I’m not one to make excuses, but it was about time we got some breaks tonight,” said Jeff Francoeur, who recorded a career-high four hits, including a single during a two-run fifth inning that halted Atlanta’s frustrations with runners in scoring position.

While the fifth might have turned the tide, the eighth unfolded in an unfamiliar manner for the Braves, who had won just two of their previous 22 home games. Kelly Johnson began the decisive frame with a bloop double that landed between Adeiny Hechavarria and Cole Gillespie in shallow left …

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